Analysis of American Culture and History in Poe's 'Tell-Tale Heart'

This essay explores how Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Tell-Tale Heart' reflects American culture and history through its themes and characters. The essay argues that the story's dark themes, such as the unexplored aspects of humanity and moral guilt, are representative of the American cultural beliefs and the darker side of the American Dream. The gradual mental degradation of the narrator mirrors the failure of the American Dream, while the old man symbolizes the rise of America. The essay concludes that Poe's short story, including its characterization, is indicative of American cultural history and is a representation of American Gothic fiction. Desklib provides access to similar essays and study resources for students.

Running head: ENGLISH ASSIGNMENT
English Assignment
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Introduction
Aiming to understand the aspects of American literature, this short essay will endeavor to
shed light on Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart”. The following paragraphs will endeavor
to argue for the fact that the characters and themes in the short story is reflective of the American
culture and history. The following paragraphs will also endeavor to provide ample textual
instances and justifications.
Discussion
A closer look at Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart” will reveal that the short story
is emblematic of the various nuances vested in the culture of America. A closer examination of
the underlying theme of the dark and unexplored aspect of humanity is representative of the
positive and futuristic visions of the state of America. This is vested in the section of the text
where the old man is murdered and his dismembered body parts are hidden.
“Yes, He was dead, Dead as a Stone…” (Poe 66).
This depicts the opposite nature of the ideal state of America and the American Dream. In
addition to this, the story can also be seen as an instance of American Gothic literature. Further,
the theme of moral sense of guilt is also reflective of the American cultural beliefs in morality. In
the text, the theme of moral repercussion is manifested in the section where the narrator feels the
moral conscience revolting against the prevalent situation. It can be mentioned that this theme of
underlying guilt related to mortality is emblematic of the underlying cultural and moral
implications of the American age. It has to be said that the themes of the story is connected to the
setting depicted throughout the narrative. The underlying and important theme of terror and
horror is also reflective of the manner in which the literary cultural history of America started

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accepting and lauding the genre of ‘psychological horror’. “I have lost control of my mind, why
do you say that I am mad…” (Poe 64).
A closer examination of the other aspects of the story will unearth the idea that the
intricate characters in the text are reflective of the intricate nature of the American Dream. It can
be mentioned that the gradual mental degradation of the narrator is reflective of the gradual
failure and degradation of the American Dream that is also depicted in the various American
Literature. A closer analysis of the above-mentioned character will project the notion that the
rampant turmoil and the mental torment is indicative of the tormented state of the cultural history
in relation to the sheer failure of American Dream. Further, it can also be traced that the old man
is representative of the gradual rise of America, overthrowing the Great British Empire,
indicating the rise of the modern world. The unavoidable metaphorical sound of the heartbeat of
the old man is emblematic of the rising American society as well as culture. Thus, it can be
mentioned that Poe’s characters are representative of the American ideals and notions.
Conclusion
After analyzing the above-discussed ideas, it can be concluded that Poe’s short story
including the themes and characterization are indicative of the American cultural history. It can
also be concluded that the story is representative of the American Gothic fiction.

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References
Poe, Edgar Allan. The Terrifying Tales By Edgar Allan Poe. Simon & Schuster, 2014.